Builders groups and others proposed several bills during this year's legislative session, but only one — a minor one — passed. The groups plan to push some of the same bills during next year's legislative session.
Law passed
Washington's contractor-protection law: Promoted by the Building Industry Association of Washington, the bill took effect in late July. It considers factors such as homeowners' maintenance efforts in assessing builder responsibility and reduces the time window within which owners can sue builders from 12 to six years.
Legislation proposed
Washington's condo bill: This bill, promoted by the Master Builders, encourages out-of-court arbitration (instead of litigation) to settle owner-builder disputes and clarifies builder responsibilities.
Omnibus tort-reform bill: This bill aims to clarify when professionals in multiple industries — including the medical field and builders/developers — can be sued. The condo bill is seen by some as a single-industry offshoot.
Insurance-market bill: Promoted by the Office of the Insurance Commissioner, the bill would create a "joint underwriting association" among insurers to maintain a minimum number of available condo and builder liability policies. Critics of the bill say that wider policy availability can't remedy unaffordably high policy rates.
Our condominium association has felt the effect of poor workmanship. Our condominium was very poorly built and an extreme water intrusion problem is now being taken car of by completely remodeling the exterior of the building. We have contracted to have the siding, patio doors, and windows replaced. We also have had to replace much of the framing on the weather side of our building. We did go to the builder but the six year time limit had expired leaving us with little choice but to access the homeowners with a $3 million special assessment.
I have been in contact with a few condominiums in the Seattle area in order to form a Condominium Resource Association that will be a source for current and new condominium owners. The Master Builders have the money and lobbyists in Olympia but we have the votes.
Leave a comment and I will answer questions as to how your condominium can participate in this valuable association.
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